Someone Appropriated The Balls
Mon. 30 Oct. ‘44
6:40 p.m.
Dear folks,
Another week under way. Next week by this time I hope not to be here. Last night after I finished up your letter I got to bed and I was up on schedule this morning – dressed, out for reveille, and ate – cakes, syrup, butter & milk. After eating I did my work and then slept ½ hour or so before going to work. I got my morning reports done and then at about 10:00 we went up to the finance office and transcribed our payrolls. When we got back I typed on some furloughs until about noon when I quit for dinner. The meals are really lousy lately. I was a little late and missed most of the food. I got a couple of eggs, some dressing, bread & butter. After that we went over to the P.X. for some milk. At 1:00 I went back to work and spent the whole afternoon typing furloughs. I had 29 of them to do. The way I figure they are about only 10 men from me on the list now but I’m afraid this is the last group to go out. I guess I shouldn’t complain though. I quit at about 5:00 tonight and took my blouse and field jacket over to the cleaners. I went over to the mess hall but skipped the supper. I just couldn’t see that meal of pork & stuff. The boys are really getting fed up with the food. I played 4 or 5 games of horseshoes with the boys and now here I am. I got your Thurs. and Fri. letters today. Was ist der “Mein Borin.” Do you mean that little wooden frame I used to have with you & Pop in? So far as I’m concerned the work can be slowed up so long as I can get home. It would be done if I weren’t in the Army so to heck with it. I’ve been pretty careful about sitting anyplace while I was sweaty. I imagine it really does look like fall up there now. It doesn’t seem like Nov. here yet at all. We’ll probably get up north with about the first snow storm. You should have got a letter Fri. because I wrote Tues. I hope you got up to the place last week end. Then you’ll be home next week. Well that’s your letters and today. Tomorrow night I have another class to go to. Tonight I think I shall go to the show with Buchman. It’s 7:15 now so I’ll bring this to a close. Someone appropriated the balls so no ping pong tonight. Anyway,
Auf Zeiderschen, or something like that
Be seein you
Love
Son
This Table Will Be The Ruin Of Me Yet
Sat. 28 Oct. ‘44
9:25 p.m.
Dear folks,
I’m in the day room tonight writing this between games of ping pong. This table will be the ruin of me yet. Back again at 10:50 after playing a few more games. I get beaten by just about everybody around here. It’s later than I thought so I think I’ll quit and maybe get to bed in decent time for a change. I got your Wed. letter on schedule today.
Sun. 29 Oct. ’44 — 12:15 noon. Well, I’ll start again. Fri. night I got to bed as soon as I finished my letter. I was up, dressed, & out for breakfast after reveille as usual – corn flakes, toast, jam & milk. After eating I got my dirty clothes together to send to the laundry and then shaved before going to work. I managed to get in a couple games before 8:00. I did my report and spent most of the day typing stuff. I didn’t get too much done as I wasn’t very ambitious. We quit at noon and I spent the noon hour playing. I didn’t miss anything for dinner except the good old pork they throw out. Breakfast is getting to be my best meal. They can’t do much to the milk & boxed cereal. At 1:00 I went back and we fixed a few allotments, made a new list for Good Conduct Ribbons & also men who are eligible to wear overseas service bars. We quit at about 4:00 and I got a haircut before I came back for supper – spaghetti, wax beans, bread, butter & cinnamon roll. After eating I changed to fatigues and took my stationery over to the day room to write. I didn’t get much written as I got involved in several games. I just about broke even. Finally I quit that and then got into a dart game with Buck. It was a little after 12:00 I guess when we quit and went to bed. I intended to eat breakfast this morning but when I woke up it was after 9:00 so I went back to sleep and got up at about 11:30. For dinner we had steak, wax beans, beets, biscuit, butter and cake. Now here I am. No mail. It’s a beautiful day out. Practically everybody is in camp today. You can tell it’s the end of the month. I think I’ll get dressed and take off in a little while. No mail today so I’ll get to the back letters. I found that Tues. Oct. 10 letter stuck in between some others so I’ll get it first. We don’t keep our blouses. They have a new type – short, tight-fitting blouse that comes just to the waist. I guess I don’t get mad just a little perturbed at times. I meant Buchman was a little aloof. He isn’t “one of the boys” who goes out and has a big time with the gang. If regular mail goes as fast its lots better as you can write more. I think Oct. 14 was much nicer this year than last year. At least I was on my way home. Now Tues. Oct. 24 – Do you mean you caught that kind of feet from me. I was afraid it might happen. If we could get beans here like you fix I wouldn’t mind them at all. I would sure like to see another postponement of things. A group goes out on furlough Tues. & comes back the 15. As it stands we leave the 20th. I’m about 10th in the next eligible group so a 2 or 3 weeks delay would do the trick. I meant I thought maybe you’d think that.
Wed. Oct. 24 – Yeh, it was too short a time home but it was swell while it lasted. Looks like the rumors about closing down the Camp went haywire all right. Something will turn up to solve your housing problem I think before the 6 mos. are up. Well that’s all the back letters. It’s about 1:30 now so I think I’ll sign off for awhile and go shave.
Back at 10:10 p.m. I quit and Buck and I went over and played some ping pong and darts until supper at 4:00. Buchman trimmed me today too. Everybody seems to be doing it now. I had some bread, butter, cheese & pickles for supper and skipped the rest. After eating we got into a game or two of horseshoes but got beat at that too. Then I showered, shaved, dressed and Buck & I went into town. We got some ice cream, went to a show, got a couple sandwiches and came back. We saw Abbott & Costello in “In Society.” It wasn’t bad but a bit silly in spots. So that’s today. It’s time for lights out so I think I shall sign off and get another good night’s sleep. My ass’t got back from pass today so he’ll be back on the job in the morning. So for tonight,
So long,
Love,
Son
Haymes Has Sinatra Way Outclassed
Thurs. 26 October 1944
5:55 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well I’m C.Q. again. It seems to come around fast yet I guess it’s over two weeks since I last had it. Only the 5th & 4th grades pull it and since they’ve promoted some of the sgts it means fewer men on the roster and we get it oftener. Last night after I finished your letter I went over to the P.X. and got my cleaning and brought it back. By then it was about 8:30 so I decided to go to the show. It was “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” with June Haver & Dick Haymes and was pretty good. It was in color and some of the music was very good. This boy Haymes has Sinatra way outclassed when it comes to singing in my opinion. I got back at about 10:45 and got to bed. I was up as usual and through the same old routine this morning. For breakfast – cakes, syrup, butter, milk, and an apple. After I got things cleaned up I shaved and then went to work. I had a little trouble with my morning report and didn’t get it out until nearly 9:00. Then I worked on allotments & stuff most of the rest of the forenoon. At the last minute one of the orders was rescinded so as a result I had to prepare a new morning report. They change their minds so often now it’s hard to keep up with it all. I quit at 12:00 for dinner – potatoes, peas & carrots, bread, butter & ice cream. After dinner we had a physical. My feet are all healed up O.K. since I quit scratching them so I had no trouble. I got back to work at about 1:20 and we worked on allotments & interviews all afternoon. I quit at about 4:30 and went back to eat – spuds, spinach, relish, bread & cookies. I came over here at 5:30 and except for a couple calls I’ve been writing. Back at 5 to 7:00. I had a couple calls and some telegrams to take care of. Today I got your Mon. Oct 23 letter and Gram’s letter. I guess it’s about time I did a little answering. First – Wed. Oct. 18 – I saw the car as the train pulled by but I was sitting on the opposite side of the train. Another phone call. I wish Babe could have found me someplace ‘cause I didn’t want to leave. My feet look O.K. now. Well I guess me and my big mouth did it again. Now look hear just a minute. I said you had an inferiority complex. By that I didn’t mean maybe what Webster does. I used it in my own sense of the word. He and I may not agree C. I certainly didn’t think of it by the definition you used. I mean you always try to make people think you hold yourself back from this or that. You have always talked & said you didn’t feel people liked you and similar remarks. I merely said that you had an inferiority complex. In other words you are just a little hesitant about shoving yourself forward. I certainly didn’t mean it the way you seem to have taken it. And anyway there’s nothing there. I’ve said the same thing a good many times about myself. I always fade back instead of stepping out in front and making myself look important. I never carry on a good conversation unless the other person keeps on talking. I don’t make friends very easily. Yet I’m not particularly worried about it. Now I wasn’t criticizing you and I don’t see where you got the idea. A lot of things I said I meant to try to snap you out of it a little. I know you pretty doggone well whether you’ll agree or not and you are worrying too much about things. Yeh, I know I can talk but still it’s the truth. You’ve always held yourself back lots of times. If I was wrong in saying what I did I am really sorry but you’ve said practically the same thing about yourself a good many times. Why don’t you mention these things when I’m home where I can get really at them. When I write it’s often easy to be misunderstood. If you don’t agree with me say so. I never approved of anybody stealing anything but I merely said it ought to be excusable if it was the only way to get anything over there. They’re taking us for everything we’ve got and more besides. I know I blew off a couple times when I shouldn’t have but I’m not too collected either. I’ve been pretty cranky I guess & grouchy for quite awhile. I’ll probably get worse. I never did have too pleasant a disposition and it isn’t improving. You take what I say too literally or something. I didn’t [say] anything was wrong with you. Buchman was the kid I said had an inf. comp. There are lots of people probably half of us who do. So what? I never meant it to be taken that way. I’ve told you plenty of times to get rid of that idea other people were better than you. Now maybe inside you really don’t feel that way, but you’ve always talked as if you did. My feelings toward you aren’t changed and you ought to know that. That’s all I can say. Whether or not you want to believe it I guess is up to you. I said if you were my wife you wouldn’t handle the pay check. I didn’t mean that I didn’t want you to do it. I meant no woman would ever handle it. I wasn’t thinking the way you took it. So far as you’re concerned you can have it all but what little I need. I see through what you said in…… [The remainder of this letter is missing. Ed.]
He Was Conscious Today
COMPANY C
1268TH ENGINEER C BATTALION
Camp Maxey, Texas
20 October 1944
SUBJECT: Report of Day’s Activities of EM.
To : Commanding General, Forist Family, 1010 Beech Street, Lansing 12, Michigan.
- Reference is made to Cpl Arlington A. Forist, 36416037, a member of this command.
- Cpl Forist has had a rough week and is a little tired tonight. He took a shower after finishing up his letter home last night and then got to bed at about 10:45. Incidentally the luminous dial on his new watch works very well after dark. The rest of the company was out on bivouac last night and came in at about 6:30 this morning but the Cpl was a little sleepy from a couple nights on the train so he slept on through breakfast and might still be sleeping for all we know if Pvt John A Kinley 36856182 also a member of this command had not awakened him at about 7:20. So the Cpl got up and dragged on his clothes and after doing a little half-hearted sweeping he took off for his usual goldbricking job at the personnel section. He did his usual morning reports and after interviewing a few men got to work on a lot of stuff that had to be done. I guess he must be a little lazy or something because his work is never really all done for some reason. An inspector was in and as usual he got Cpl Forist’s records to check but he didn’t find anything seriously wrong. At noon he quit for dinner. He ate some potatoes, corn, bread, butter, and an apple. After eating he went over to the PX for a bottle of milk with a pie which seems to be quite a habit for him lately. He was conscious [conscientious?] today so he went back to work at 12:30. MY.MY. He finished the job he was on and then got tied up with a mess of MOS changes again. He worked on the stuff until nearly 5:00 when he quit to go eat supper. He had some potatoes, sliced tomatoes, bread, butter and jam. Since his three day pass the first of this week he has been known to turn up his nose a bit at the GI chow our good mess sergeant puts forth. After eating he shaved and washed up and dressed to go to a class in administration that is being held each Tues and Fri night at 9th Hq 4th Army. He grumbled about something more to take up this evenings. It is this person’s belief that Cpl Forist is unhappy in the service. He missed some work tonight though. The battalion is moving back up where it used to be when he went on furlough so he didn’t have to go up and help clean up the barracks. The fact that they are moving indicates that Cp. Forist can unpack his bag and figure on a little more time in Camp Maxey at least until Nov 20. In fact the furlough deal has been extended to include the men who came back by the 30th of June so if they extend it a week or so more Cpl Forist may take off on furlough. Of course he is a bit pessimistic about it right now knowing the Army but there is a possibility that he might be able to keep that promise he is alleged to have made to the folks back home that he would be home for Xmas. He has been whistling White Xmas and I’ll Be Home For Xmas all afternoon much to some people’s dismay but he is sometimes happy in his ignorance. After dressing he went out and pitched a few curve balls with Buchman until time to go to class. It might be noted that his curve was breaking for the first time in about 5 years tonight. Maybe he should be pitching instead of punching. He rode up to the class which lasted about an hour. They started it off with a test to see if he had read outside of class on his lesson. Unfortunately he had not but he seemed to do the best of the clerks from the 1268th because he missed only one question out of 10. After the class was over he came back to the personnel office and typed up an inclosure for his morning report tomorrow morning. He was the only one to come back. The other members of the section proceeded to go to a cinema. When he finished his work he started to write a letter to his folks and I believe he is still at it at 10:00 p.m. He got no mail from home yet today and I imagine he doesn’t expect to get any until at least Saturday. He loudly acclaims the fact that he is about ready for bed now. He’ll probably sleep thru reveille tomorrow morning if somebody doesn’t wake him up.
- Therefore in view of the above stated day of the subject soldier, it is felt by this headquarters that in lieu of a discharge at the present time he should be granted a 15 day furlough starting on or about 21 Dec 44 with sufficient WD AGO Form 7’s in his possession so that he could leave this station by noon of Saturday 16 Dec 44 and proceed by the best available means to Lansing Michigan.
4. Request acknowledgment of receipt by indorsement hereon.
For the Commanding Officer:
ARLINGTON A. FORIST
CORPORAL, 36416037
COMPANY CLERK
Bet you thought some of this was serious didn’t you?
So long for tonight,
Love
Son
Western Union Again
WESTERN UNION
[Date stamped: 1944 OCT 14 AM 12 57]
C10 WUDE1C NL PD=TEXARKANA ARK 13
ALEXANDER FORIST=
SEE YOU SAT NIGHT USUAL PLACE AND TIME=
SON.
Just Me
Thurs. 12 Oct. ‘44
About 7:45 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well I’m back again. I’m sitting in the supply room writing this while the boys about me busily work. Last night after I finished writing I shaved, showered and got to bed. I was up at the usual time again this morning. Oh was it cold to crawl out of that nice warm blanket and dress. It wasn’t much warmer outside at reveille either. After reveille I straightened up my junk around my bed, and went to breakfast – eggs (I think that’s what it was supposed to be), bread, butter, milk and an apple. After eating I finished up and then we went over and swept and mopped the office out. Then I did my report. It was a pretty good one today with all the changes we had. Then I up and left one change off so that has to go on in the morning. Then I cleaned up a few jobs and spent the morning on my payroll until I quit for dinner. I had macaroni, creamed cauliflower, corn, bread & butter. After dinner I adjourned for my usual milk at the P.X. Then back to work on my payroll until I got it finished. I had to take time out for an hour or so this morning while they had a dental survey. I had to check the Service Records to see if the partial plates were all entered. My teeth are in Class IV yet which means they are O.K. Tonight I quit at about 5:00 I guess and came back to supper – potatoes, salad, bread, butter & rice pudding. After supper I shined my buttons and took care of some stuff. Then I went over to the P.X. and sat around talking with the 1st/Sgt awhile and then brought some candy back to my boys working here in the supply room. I hope I can read this over your shoulder. My pass is OK’d and I intend to take off tomorrow night unless something happens. I won’t quite make it home for my birthday but it’s close enough to call it that. I’m hoping what you are sending gets here by tomorrow. I got your 2 cards & Mon. letter this morning. This afternoon I got 2 pkgs from Sunfield. One was a box of about 5 big apples that Gramp raised. Boy there [they] are really big and good tasting too. The other pkg was a little box of candy, 2 prs of socks, some shaving cream, blades & tooth powder and a couple handkerchiefs. So I owe them a letter now too. I owe you a couple but I hope I can be there to answer them so I think I’ll skip it for tonight. This isn’t much of a letter but I’m going to stop and get my stuff ready to take along. I’m not dragging very much this time. Just me. So for tonight,
How do you do,
Love
Me
Scraping The Bottom Of The Barrel
COMPANY C
1268TH ENGINEER C BATTALION
Camp Maxey, Texas
29 September 1944
SUBJECT: Gossip and Stuff.
To : The Forist Family, 1010 Beech Street, Lansing 12, Michigan.
In compliance with letter your Headquarters dated Tuesday 26 September 1944, the following report is hereby submitted:
Hi everybody. Just thought I’d start this out like an official letter just for the heck of it and see what you would say. Time 7:20 p m. Place the personnel office as usual it seems. I came over and did a little work and now I’m going to write a few letters. I have been doing pretty well with my correspondence lately. I’ve been averaging about 1 letter a night besides the one to you folks. After I finished that one last night I went back to the barracks and shaved and got to bed at about 10:30 I guess. I was really sleepy and slept on through until the lights came on this morning at 6:15. I got up and dressed and laid back down until time to fall out for reveille. It rained quite a bit yesterday and last night and it has been really muddy around here again today. After reveille I ate breakfast—french toast, butter, syrup, corn flakes, milk and apples. Then I went back and fixed up my bed and swept and mopped the floor. I came to work at about the usual time and got my report out in a hurry this morning as there were no changes yesterday. Then we worked correlating the service records with the medical records to get all the shots recorded and when the mail man went after his mail we went up to the finance office and transcribed our payrolls for September. We didn’t get back until about 10:30 and by then the inspectors were in my records so there was very little that I could do the rest of the morning. They finished with the inspection about dinner time and gave us a little talk about the errors they found. All in all they said our records were by far the best they have run into in a long time. That made us all feel pretty good about the situation. The man who checked the service records said mine were the best of the 4 companies which was what we expected but it was a nice thing to hear anyway. All in all our work has been pretty doggone good. Now all we have to do is to iron out the few things they found wrong and get set for the I G inspections which comes 23 October. That’s the real one that shows how good they are. We have a bale of forms to prepare by the first of next week so there will be work for me here Sunday if I have the ambition to do it. The 1st Sgt got gigged a little on his duty roster which made me feel good. He needs a little gigging to make him see he isn’t always right. I quit at about noon for dinner –potatoes, beets, tomatoes, relish, bread, butter, and lemonade. After eating I got my usual milk for dessert. If it would stay about this temperature all the time I might gain a little weight again. This afternoon I came back and got to work typing furloughs. I had about 16 to do and then after I get them all done they tell me some of them may be held back until their teeth are fixed up to POM standards. Whenever I seem to get ahead of things a little something seems to come up to gum me up. Maybe I should be slow all the time. I quit for supper at about the usual time—macaroni, string beans, salad, bread, butter, and jello. After eating I came back here and got the records ready for a man who is transferring out tomorrow and then here I am. It seems as if I am Working all the time yet there is always that much more to be done. Today I got Gram’s long letter and your Tuesday letter. It went down to the 1267th by mistake but I got it this afternoon. Glad you got my letter on a Tues. for a change. I’d like to get some of that chili sauce. Yes the summer has gone fast but No it isn’t a short time since I was home. I’m CQ next weekend Oct 7 & 8 too. Time has gone fast since I was on last time Jul 28. Judging by the men we have here they must have really scraped the bottom of the barrel in the past few months. The one’s who have come in since last fall are all out of place except the young kids. The one’s outside aren’t worth much physically I’m thinking. But then I’m probably wrong. The cooler weather is slowing down the mosquitoes a little here. There is still the LS on the old records. The new ones just tell what is wrong with a person. I should answer Ferd’s letter pretty soon. I still owe about a half dozen letters to people. I guess I could get along without butter if I could get home. Some mornings I feel pretty tired or sleepy or something. Someday I’ll be back on a real schedule and then I should feel more on the ball. It’s funny in a way because I wasn’t getting too much sleep when I was going to school what with working at the store and doing my work yet I usually seemed wide enough awake to get along all right. I know back at Arkansas I quite often found myself falling asleep in a lecture which is something I never did at MSC. I guess this whole thing has just got us all tired and it will take a few months of real relaxation to get everybody all set to go in a normal way again. I can’t give much of a good word from here when there doesn’t seem to be any. They have the crating crew working full time now and the stuff starts going into grease and cosmolene pretty soon. They got a big load of clothes and stuff yesterday and there is more on the way. They are going to take our duffle bags when they get them and fill them up with new stuff all the way through and then just issue them to us when the time comes. That way all of us will have new clothes. I got a new set of fatigues today to replace the set I turned in to get the class X suntans last summer. I just had a little trouble with the ribbon on this writer and my hands are pretty black now. I guess I have answered your letter and covered the day so I will be signing off. I have to go back and clean up and fix up my laundry to go out in the morning and also straighten up my foot locker a little. So for tonight I’ll be seeing you.
Love
Arlington
Now Look Here Lady
Mon. 18 Sep. ‘44
8:30 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well I’m in the barracks tonight. The company is just pulling out for night operations up by the Red River. I’m on an empty bed near mine. No sense in unpiling mine for tonight. I have a nice little radio here that I borrowed from one of my boys so I’m set to spend an evening “at home” (Yeah I’m laughing at that one too.) I’ve got some pretty good music on it now. Last night I got to bed at 10:00 but squadrons of mosquitoes came roaring in and didn’t help me any. We went on the winter schedule this morning. That makes reveille at 6:45 so we slept ‘til 6:15. I got up, dressed, fell out for reveille, came in, fixed my bed, swept, mopped and went to breakfast – cake, syrup, butter, rice cereal, milk and a pear. After breakfast I went to work at about 7:45. I did my reports and some odd jobs and then got back to remaking form 20’s. I’m beginning to go along a little faster now but not fast enough. At 12:00 we quit for dinner – beef loaf, potatoes, peas & carrots, salad, bread & butter. After dinner I had ½ hour or so before going back to work at 1:00. I typed an emergency furlough & a company fund report & then went back to my job until nearly 5:00 when we quit. For supper I had potatoes, beans, salad, bread, butter, jelly & iced cocoa. I loafed around awhile and then went back to the office and worked up until a little while ago. I got your Fri. letter today. Now look here lady. I guess I’ll have to come home and put you over my knee. If I’d known you would feel as you do I’d have kept quiet awhile until I was sure. I’ve merely been passing along all the good rumors. Now you better snap out of it. Actually I find I’m not worried about it myself so don’t let yourself feel so. I’m here & can see about what will happen. Everything I’ve seen so far adds up to the same thing and believe me it could be plenty worse and I’m really thankful for that. There’s one place I don’t want to see & that’s the South Pacific and I’m willing to bet a plenty now that we aren’t headed that way. One rumor of a couple weeks standing came out today. We are now in the XXXVI Corps instead of the XXIII so I suppose the patches come off again. I don’t know if the XXXVI has one or not. So far I’ve worn 7 & you have at least one of each [sketches of 7 patches]. I don’t know if it’s still part of the 4th Army or not. That leaves one rumor – that we go from Combat to Construction Engrs & I think that’s coming pretty soon. Now to answer your letter. Dad’s getting to be quite a typist. Incidentally typing is good to use for V-mail. You won’t have too many days without mail if I should take off for somewhere. I’ll go a lot longer without it than you as I’ll be on the move. I realize it isn’t such a good thing but a few million others have had to do it and they went over to duck bullets. That’s the big thing. I’ll never believe this outfit is meant to fight. Physically it’s incapable of it. Not when we get morons of mental age 7 yrs. & we got one yesterday. It isn’t so much. If I’m 1000 miles from home & can’t get there I could as well be 3000. My chances would be the same. You haven’t too much to worry about. We’ll be off on a little trip chiefly to gain a few points toward a discharge, a couple service ribbons, and a little education. I’m wondering how fast I can pick up French or German. There’ll really be some things to write about and censorship will gradually be lifted as time goes on. That daily letter will be there as long as it’s possible. There might be a space of 2 or 3 weeks but once they get started they’ll keep coming. I’ll always be near my typewriter and can dash off a note or two every day. You know once we get these records in shape this develops into a gold brick’s job. On the field it’s a cinch. I ain’t very doggone near here in Texas 1200 miles away or 2500 miles away at Palo Alto. What do you mean “I was”? Hey, hey, let’s not be using any past tenses here. Let’s let the worm live, huh? We have A2 with a priority for 100% new clothes. We had to lay out our underwear, socks & all our woolens today for serviceability inspection. One pr. of pants & a shirt of mine were declared unserviceable so I’ll get new ones. I got a set last week so that makes two. I’d like to have gotten a blouse but I guess they didn’t notice where it was ripped that time. Priorities often drop off though. The 102nd Div. got to POE & was turned back. I don’t intend to lose my stripes. Right now I’m keeping my eyes open for a chance to grab another but it is definitely out I guess. The CO didn’t break those boys. Ratings are still frozen. I can get away with quite a bit and I know what I can & can’t do. My CO is a lot different from my 1st one. I don’t say much except yes & no to him unless I can put myself to advantage by sounding as if I’m really on the ball. Right now my morale is surprisingly high. I feel pretty good about things. For one, I’m not hit by most of the stuff the boys on the line get. And also I have a slant on what’s going on. The boys have grasped all these rumors & passed them on but they don’t believe it. They think it’s all a big joke. Someday they’ll wake up. A few believe it & some of the rats are trying to desert the ship. I’d rather stay with this outfit than go with some other one in 5 or 6 months. I’ve a good job and nothing to worry about. As I see it we are bound to get it sooner or later so the sooner the quicker we get back and some other poor sucker takes over. It’s a vicious circle but there won’t be many troops in the U.S. by next year. I thought we were due for rain Thurs. night but it didn’t come. The Irish man is O.K. but no particular friend. Say, the Tigers were in 1st place this morning. What do you know? Dunkle’s children are quite problems. Maybe you’ll go up next weekend. I guess my pass is probably out now. The way I see it Mom is this: They are going to keep men in Europe quite awhile and rotate them. We are getting wool clothes & overshoes, no cottons so it almost has to be Europe. The war in the Pacific can last quite awhile so I’d much rather cool my heels in Europe than in the jungles. I think every man will have to go over before he gets out so now is about the best time. We are to be packed & loaded (I hear tonight) by Oct. 12 which means any day after that we leave here. That gives us maybe ‘til Jan 1 here in the States. By then it’s bound to be over in Europe so we go build it up. Remember what I told you when I was home. That’s what I mean by it could be plenty worse. It really may not be so bad at all as compared to what some have had. Well I’ve dwelled on this way too much but don’t let it worry you too much please. ‘Cause then I’ll be worrying because you are. It’s not too serious after all. Well I’ll call this it for tonight and get to bed early for a change. So at 9:40 so long.
Love
Son
A Nice Rifle & Bayonet
Friday Sep 15, 1944
9:55 p.m.
Dear folks,
Another note again. Last night after I finished writing I ate – potatoes, peas & carrots, salad, bread, butter & a peach. Then I got some ice cream at the P.X. & some cookies to take along. I changed to fatigues, made up my pack and got issued a nice rifle & bayonet. They had orders to issue every man his authorized weapon so I got mine. I guess I’ve been lucky to be without it for 5 months. At about 6:30 we took our equipment over & loaded it into a ¾ ton truck. At 7:20 we took off. We went through the center of Paris & through Sulphur Springs. The Bn. was spread over a large area but we were about 8 miles I guess from Sulphur Springs. We got to the bivouac area at about 10:00. I found a spot, shook out my roll & fixed my bed. I had my shelter half and double thickness of blanket under me and a double thickness over me. I used my field jacket for a pillow. I was surprised for I slept very well. I did make the mistake of leaving my rifle out. It was wet from dew this morning but it was well oiled & didn’t seem to rust. We got up at 6:30, ate – eggs, potatoes, bread, butter, milk & an apple – I rolled my bed and we went to work. I did my report & then worked on pay books off and on until noon. We couldn’t do too much out there. For dinner we had K-rations. They come in a wax box – 6 biscuits, a little can of cheese, powdered lemon for drink, sugar, stick of gum & dextrose tablets. I guess it’s all right when you’re hungry. After eating we loaded our stuff & waited around to come in. We never pulled out until about 3:00 and it was nearly 6:00 when we got in. I ate – string beans, salad, bread & butter & went to work. I hung up my clothes, refixed my pack & stuff, washed my mess gear, cleaned my bayonet and rifle, went to the P.X. for soap & shaving cream, arranged my foot locker, got my laundry ready to go out tomorrow and finally here I am. I still have to shower & shave. I got your Tues. letter today. So for tonight I’ll sign off.
Love
Son
The News From France is Really Good
Thurs. 24 Aug. ‘44
7:30 p.m.
Dear folks,
C.Q. reporting. I’m on duty again. Seems as if I don’t have many evenings off any more but I guess I have nothing to complain about as the rest of the boys are out working yet. It is much cooler now outside as we had a real rain storm tonight for awhile. Last night after I finished your letter I got to bed. I was up at 6:00 this morning.
Its 9:00 now and I better get at this. Our lights go down every once in awhile and I’m liable to find myself here in the dark. I dressed and fell out for reveille this morning for a change as there are so few of us in camp. After that I swept, got my stuff in order and ate – shredded wheat, milk, cakes, syrup, butter & jelly. After eating I slept awhile and then went to work. I did my report, typed a courts martial charge sheet, and did some other jobs to fill the forenoon until 11:15. For dinner I had potatoes, beans, spinach, bread & butter. After eating I shaved & washed and then came back to work. I worked recording the infiltration course & a few other things most of the time. Since I was C.Q. I left a little early in order to eat. At about 4:15 the wind began to blow and the dust got so bad you couldn’t see over 30 ft. I’d say. Then it began to rain, thunder & lightning. It came down plenty for the first time since April or May like that. Water was standing in lakes all over but by 5:00 the sun was out & it had soaked in. I went back and ate early at about 4:45 – potatoes, cold toms, salad, bread & cake. Then at about 5:30 I came over here. I got a pair of class A pants in place of the X’s they lost at the ldry. So I gained on that exchange. I was good hearted & agreed to type the laundry roster for the supply clerk so I started on it. But at about 6:30 all the officers gathered for a class in here so I quit typing. I figured it would be too noisy. I moved around being inconspicuous as possible, answered the phone & went for telegrams & finally started this. The meeting broke up & I went after some ice cream & finished the laundry roster so here I am. It’s not my job but the kid is snowed under with work so I did it for him as long as I had to be here anyway. He’s one of the boys I was in town with last night – Marshall H. Buchman of Fort Wayne, Ind. He has an aunt who lives on W. Ottowa St. in Lansing. He’s pretty sensible – another ASTU man – Univ. of Ill. So that’s today roughly. These lights get dim & come back off & on. I hope they don’t go out completely. I imagine the boys out in the field got a little damp for awhile. They say it’s a regular picnic but that rain I imagine dampened their spirits a little. They are on the Red River in Okla. near Hugo I guess. They’ll be in tomorrow night. Ah, thunder & the wind is picking up. Bet we get more rain yet tonight. I got your long Mon. letter today so now to answer it. Ah, just had a call from St. George Utah for one of my boys. I guess you ought to be able to burn for yourself in your own back yard so long as it doesn’t disturb anyone. I guess I must have been off the ball when I dated that Wed. letter. You see each morning I prepare a morning report dated the day before & sometimes I think of a wrong day or date. Tomorrow morning Fri. the 25 I’ll make one dated the 24th. You’ll notice I initialed my error with the Personnel Officer’s initials. That is S.O.P. all errors will be initialed. I can make his initials better than he can. I’d like to get home but when I think it over it would be pretty grueling. The only way I could make it would be to get a 3 day pass from Mon. plus a weekend pass. Then I’d get in Mon. morning at the usual time & leave Tues. afternoon. That’s quite a bit of steady travel. I may do it but I’m not sure yet if I could even get it fixed that way. Maybe I’ll get a little closer and then I’d get more out of it but I’m probably kidding myself on that. Kinley has been here nearly as long as I. He came 5 days after I did. He’s a good kid in a lot of ways but Ferdie & Leonard are still the best 2. I’m beginning to like this kid Buchman better as I’m getting to know him. Kinley’s pop is a big shot contractor or something in Detroit. I expect induction will fall way off pretty soon & demobilization will start (I hope). I didn’t run the infiltration course on paper, it was on my belly. I had intended to just give myself credit for it without doing it but I decided not to. I left out the melon last night as I had eaten ice cream. The melon is split lengthwise into ¼ or 1/6 parts [sketch of watermelon] for 25 cents each. They make lots of profit. They have outdoor tables fixed where you can sit & eat it. That’s something not found up north I guess. We may wear those 23rd corps patches if our group will authorize them. I have the 2 you sewed on in my locker. This watch will need a cleaning & the band is terribly dirty & corroded in spots from perspiration. It will have to be cleaned someday. Forget Sept. 1st. We’ll be here long after that at our present rate of motion. There is nothing definite being done at all. Well that’s your letter. It’s raining again now. The news from France is really good. Another month at that rate & we can all go home. Well for tonight at 9:40 I’ll call it an end and be seein’ you next time.
Aufseider zehen
(probably spelled wrong)
Arlington
I Don’t Care For Any Boat Rides
Friday 28 July 1944
7:05 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well another week is gone so far as I’m concerned as I’m C.Q. tomorrow night. I’m over at the Service Club writing this tonight and is it hot. Last night after I finished writing I lay down in the shade until my ice cream came out. I was quite surprised because it was melted only a little. When I finished eating, a few of us reconnoitered the area and found a little store about ¼ mile away. They had some cold pop so we got some to drink and then wandered back. We lay around talking until about 10:30 I guess and then tried to get to sleep. I didn’t do too well. The ground and my body didn’t fit very well. I slept on my raincoat instead of unrolling my pack. I used it as a sort of pillow. The moon was about ½ size I guess but it was real bright until early morning. I guess my longest stretch of sleep was ½ hour or so. It would take me awhile to get used to it. If it were up north where we used to go I’d probably have done better. We were woke at about 5:30. All I had to do was fold up my raincoat & stick it into my pack. We took off about 6:00 and rode back in to camp. I washed and headed for breakfast – French toast, butter, syrup, milk & an orange. After eating I unrolled my pack, took care of all the junk, made up my bed, shaved and headed for work. I got my morning report done and a few more things and then ran into that courts martial deal again and spent nearly an hour on it which took me up to noon. For dinner I had roast beef, potatoes, salad, peas, bread, butter, and pears. After dinner I loafed awhile, then I got a pint of ice cream & headed back for work. I fixed up an allotment or two, did a couple letters and in general didn’t accomplish too much until I quit at 4:30. I went back and showered and then ate. I had potatoes, peas, beet salad, bread & peanut butter. After supper I fixed up my footlocker and all my equipment in the new way which came out. We are expecting an inspection by our old buddy General Ben Lear – remember him? Then I changed clothes & took off. Sam & Rudy hadn’t come in from the field yet so I came over here by myself and here I am. I got your Tues. letter today so now I have 2 to answer. I stuck my chin out a little today. I’m not able to tell yet whether it was or wasn’t a good idea. A lot of things are making this outfit look too hot for comfort for me. First of all, basic training was suddenly trimmed by 3 or 4 weeks and they’ll wind up Sept. 1. Then today orders came through to report all men in physical Class “D” for transfer to other units. It looks like they want to get rid of the physical misfits in a hurry. It doesn’t seem as though this outfit could have “plans” already but then one never knows. Anyway I was watching them as they made up the forms and I made the remark, “There’s a guy with eyes like mine only his are better.” Sgt. Kumins asked to see my service record & I showed him the “Divergent shabismus, amblyopia exanopsia” and my sight ratings 20/800 & 20/40. He offered to put me on too if I wanted to. I’ve never bucked any on my eyes so they had no forms or anything in this organization on me but it’s on my service record & also my classification card. Come to find out Sgt. Kumins is on the list too. So I thought it over awhile and told him to go ahead & put me down. So he did & it’s gone to 9th Hq, 4th Army. It’s possible that they’ll consider my eyes O.K. and leave me where I am in which case I’ve lost nothing. Then by some chance I might get a transfer. There’s the big question. Will it be good or bad? I have a swell setup here and I’d hate to get into something a lot worse but I figured if Sgt. Kumins is in on it he must expect something fairly decent. I know lots of times you’ve said I should let people know about my eye. So today I did and I hope it was the right time. The ones they transfer will supposedly go to service Command Units – that is become part of the Station Complement or permanent part at some camp. They are cleaning all the able men out of those units & filling them up with 4-F’s or whatever you’d like to call them. When the 1st/Sgt of H&S Co. found Kumins was going he put in his also as he has a trick back. Probably all the flat feets, etc. will be pulled out and they’ll leave the eyes behind as always. Kumins has his eyes plus asthma. Well time will tell and I sure hope I didn’t open my mouth at the wrong time. It is pretty good here now but I don’t care for any boat rides if I can avoid it and it just looks to me like the rats are pulling away from the ship. Then I might be way off the beam as usual. Anyway I dood it so it’s too late to worry now.
Now your 2 letters – Mon. July 24 –
That picture of Dad was very good I thought. Did you mean you jammed up your thumb pulling the tiger lilies or doing something else. I have a nice grazed spot on my arm that just seemed to appear. All of a sudden I noticed it was sore but I don’t know from what. Gee, I figured rationing would continue to let up but I guess I was wrong. You’ll get gas O.K. some way though. You got me wrong. I merely meant I would have more trouble firing since I was out of practice. Don’t think I wanted to get out and practice. That’s one thing I don’t like to do. I don’t like firing that way although I could learn to like it with something like Dad’s 22 maybe. I didn’t see any SOS on the shelf but I remember a lady having some in her basket in one of the stores. I have all the laundry. Well the army will soon be after that kid if he’s 18. Amelia said Johnny got home so his boat must have been in or else he’s not on one now. I didn’t care about the firing and all I wanted was to get it over with. If I hadn’t qualified they’d have dragged me out again. I could probably have done much better but I just armed & squeezed & let her go where it wanted to. I figured things would take care of themselves. You weren’t 30 years too late and I have a pretty good idea about how you feel about a lot of things, See!!! No bivouac on the schedule for next week. We get paid Tues. & then comes the supplemental payroll. Those 7 men had to go out again and fire until they made it. The cookies, Dr’s Orders, etc. were all swell. I heard a little about that explosion from some of my Calif. neighbors. It must have been right across the bay from our old gun positions. Yi! We could see Port Chicago, Martinez & Pittsburgh all right across from us.
Now Tues. July 25 – Well, the dilemma has arrived. You got me stuck as financially I ain’t worth much when it comes to figuring out what’s good. $3000 is an awful lot for the place. Also do you really want to live there. You know you could buy and then sell it for a little profit but that sort of thing is pretty much over my head. Finding a place to rent is not impossible probably but you’d have a little trouble & get soaked plenty for rent. Pay the whole $500 down if you can or more. The more down the less interest, right? At $20 per mo., that’s $480 or roughly 500 a year. With $2500 left that’s 5 years not counting any interest. How long does he say it will take? Or doesn’t he? What’s his % of interest? Maybe something will turn up that will change the picture. Regardless of what you say I’ll make this offer. You scrape up $500 or as near as you can & I’ll put $1000 with it. That’ll pay half. That’s the best I can do and I’m willing to do it. So you can take it or leave it as you feel. I’ll leave it up to you. The offer isn’t too bad considering prices now but do you like the place well enough to buy? I probably haven’t been much help to you but it’s a little hard to get the whole picture from here. Think it over. I’ll lay down the $1000 if you can get $500. For that much down he ought to knock off at least 10% don’t you think? You do whatever seems right to you. That’s all I can say.
Well that’s the letters & today at 8:20. I’m going to sign off before I just drip away. Be seeing you, (might surprise you too)
Love
Son
Retiring To The Chiggers
Thurs. July 27, 1944
6:55 p.m.
Somewhere in Maxey
Well I guess they caught up with me. I’m out in the field and I guess I will be until morning. This may be too dirty to read by the time I finish. We are bivouacked on the AA range and I’m sitting off in a little shade I found writing this on my mess kit. I’d give a quarter for a quart of real cool water right now. This place gets hotter every day. Last night after I finished your letter I sat outside awhile to cool off and then at about 11:00 we went to bed. I woke at 6:00 when the operator called as I had asked her to. I dressed and lay back down until the Officer of the Day came in and I went to breakfast. I had Pep [?], milk and an orange. Then I went back to Hqs., took care of the beds & waited for the sgt. to come in at about 7:15. Then I went to work. I did my report and drew up a courts martial charge on one of my AWOL’s. I did some other typing and it was 11:00 in no time. My assistant was there today so I put him to typing indorsements. At 11:10 I quit for the day as I had orders to come out here this afternoon and also to come on the bivouac. So I rolled my pack and then went to dinner. I had string beans, sliced toms, bread, butter, and cold cocoa. Then I got my clothes changed and we took off at about 12:30. We are out about 4 miles or more from camp I guess. We spent the whole afternoon up to 5:30 firing 22 rifles at simulated airplane targets run on pulleys. They were horizontal, overhead, climbing, diving & parachute. I didn’t care what I did but I guess I hit about ½ of them. The score means nothing anyway as all that goes on our record is the fact we fired the course. When we finished we were put in our areas and then ate – potato salad, salad, bread, butter & apple pie. Now here I am. One of the boys is bringing us out some ice cream in an hour or so but it will probably be soup by then. You could make hot tea with the water in my canteen. We had cold water out here in a lister bag but it was hot in an hour or so. It was a little cool but you put it in your canteen and in about 10 minutes it isn’t fit to drink. Even that’s gone now & I guess we won’t get any. I could sure use a cold drink. My hands face & neck are really burned. I’ll be using that hinds [?] when I get back. I got your Mon. letter out here tonight and a letter from Bart this morning. I don’t think I’ll try to answer yours tonight. I tried to get back to camp on the excuse of a lot of work to do but it didn’t work. Well I’m calling this it and retiring to the chiggers.
Be seein’ you
Love
Son
I Sat On A Piece Of Carbon Paper
Tues. July 11, 1944
6:00 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well I’m back again. I got your Friday letter today and I sure was glad to get it. It didn’t come until this afternoon and I was really beginning to wonder what was up. I’m here on my bed writing this. It’s a bit cooler today but still plenty hot. They leave all the screen doors open around here and the barracks soon fills up with flies. They are bothering me quite a bit now. Last night after I finished your letter I studied the Morning Report for awhile and then went outside and sat down for a little while on the little fence around the board walk. It was nice and cool out and fairly quiet. It reminded me of the nights we were out eating watermelons. I sat out there until about 10:30 I guess. The duty officer had a pretty busy time but there wasn’t much for me to do. He had me type him 3 different certificates. I got through all 3 without a mistake which was very good as he is the Adjutant. He seems a pretty nice fellow though for a 2nd Lt. At about 10:30 I set up our beds and we got to bed at about 11:00. I got nicely to sleep and I had to get up and answer the phone. The operator, it finally turned out, had called us by mistake instead of the 1267th next door. So I lay back down and went to sleep. That was at 12:15. Then at about 5:00 I was awakened by about the loudest chirping cricket I believe I’ve heard. He sounded as if he were whistling. I got up to see if I could find him and put him out but he was smart enough to keep quiet when I moved so I let him sing me back to sleep. I was up at 6:00 and already dressed when the operator called. I asked her to call at about 6:00 but it was 6:10. I started to sweep out a bit but the Lt. said someone else would do it so I took care of the beds and then went to breakfast. I had French toast, butter, syrup, milk and ripe apricots. Then I got the dope for my morning report and went back. My Co. was to go on a 4 hour hike this morning so I got the C.O. to sign a blank report before I typed it. They took the hike with full field packs and were back in 2 ½ hours instead of 4. They must have moved. The whole Bn. bivouacs Thurs. night but a lot of work is coming up again so I think we’ll get out of it. If it’s at all possible we will. I did my report and then spent most of the morning getting all my typing pretty well caught up. I quit at about 11:30 and went back for dinner. I had potatoes, cauliflower, bread, butter, and pumpkin pie. After eating I got my cleaning from the P.X. I wish you could see it along side your work so you could see the difference. They aren’t very clean looking and the press job is pretty sad. But that’s how they turn them out. I have one set that I took off tonight even you may not be able to get clean. I sat on a piece of carbon paper and the seat is all blue. At 12:30 I went back to work. Orders came out transferring a lot of our men. I have 44 going out so it means 44 sets of records to get ready to go. That’s probably what will keep us off the bivouac Thurs. night (we hope). The boys are all going to Engr. outfits here at Maxey but not Combat Engrs. They are Topographical and Maintenance outfits. I kept busy on that until 4:45 when I came back. For supper I had spaghetti, beets, carrots, salad, bread, marmalade, and cold chocolate drink. Now here I am. I shaved this noon but I still need to shower and clean up when I finish this. Now your Fri. letter – I hope that uneven head didn’t hang on too long. You better take it a bit easy. Well, a different radio. $40 is quite a bit unless it works pretty well. How many tubes and how old? I don’t know how good the Crosley is supposed to be. It will be an improvement if you can get a few more stations though. For $40 you should get more than 3 stations. You kept the old radio didn’t you? It looks a bit rainy here tonight. That no spraying will be hard on Mrs. C. I’m waiting to see those pictures. I hope they are all good as they are us are [as] we were. Yes, 2 weeks out of 6 months they let us live. I seem to be able to go ahead with my work and handle it pretty easily now. I’m upstairs but not with any high ups. I’m not against your ideas or ways although it may have sounded that way sometimes. I’m not going to Dallas or to any circuses. I’ve probably seen my last one. Well I guess that’s your letter & today so I’ll close. I wish you didn’t feel like you sound you do about certain things.
Love,
Sonny
Reconnoitering The Situation
Tues. July 4, 1944
3:45 p.m.
Dear folks,
Well I’m back on my old bunk again writing. When I finished writing to you downtown I and a kid I came in from Texarkana with got a breakfast. I had rice krispies, toast, butter, grapefruit juice and a piece of custard pie. Then he decided to stay in town to write and I headed for camp. After I got here I wish I could have spent the rest of the 15 hours or so at home. I got here at about 12:45 I guess. I got off the bus where we lived and nobody in sight. The barracks were padlocked and empty. I heard a rumor before I left that we were moving so I reconnoitered the situation. I discovered the motor pool was still where it had been so I went over and hunted up one of the kids. Our outfit had moved back up here just a block from where we were in the first place. He was coming up so I rode along. I walked in the barracks and see about 4 familiar faces. Oh things have really happened while I was gone. I understand they moved twice. First into the field and then here although I haven’t confirmed that. Our strength is now 206 men in the company. That’s just 44 men too many. They sure went overboard sending us men. There are stripes all over the place. I guess the place I left was pretty hard to fill. The 1st/Sgt. said they had 2 men working. I didn’t show myself over there as I didn’t want to be put to work. I still haven’t surrendered my furlough although it isn’t doing me anymore good. My class A pass will cover me now. There are a mess of the boys out on furlough now. If they keep our full quota of 15% out all the time I’ll be due for another one in Oct. but I doubt if they’ll ever let us send out 30 men even tho’ that is only 15%. Sounds good anyway doesn’t it. It’s good I came back to camp early. First of all, I had to hunt up my stuff. I managed to corner my foot locker and barracks bags in the supply room. Then I hunted up a place to live. I’m upstairs now with Hqs. Platoon. I got a bed and carried all my stuff up. Then I unpacked and rearranged and sorted everything and got my junk in order. That took awhile you can imagine. I got my laundry sorted out and got 2 sets of suntans ready for the cleaners. Then I took a good long shower and put on clean clothes. The skin is really rolling off my back now. When I got dressed I collected my mail. I did pretty well. Besides your 2 letters I had letters from Elmo, Lillis, Julius, & Hugh and cards from Marie and Leonard Freese. That’s 2 in 10 days from Hugh. This one is dated May 31. Freese sent me a card from Vancouver Wash. He got his furlough finally but it wasn’t the good kind if you know what I mean. It’s the first he’s seen his folks in the 16 months or so he’s been in. Julius got right after that letter and answered in a hurry. He only got 4 weeks boot training instead of the 8 most of them get. I wrote to him on Thurs. wasn’t it and he answered Sat. I quote part of his letter – “I got your typed letter and also the one your mother wrote. I like her letters – and they sound just like her as if she were talking to me. You know some people write letters that just don’t seem to sound like them and I sometimes think that I am that way.” unquote. So you see your boy likes your letters because you are down to earth and “as you are” in your writing. So now you have 2 boys to write to. Freeze said he was freezing out there. Elmo had 2 letters – one June 11 & one June 25. His boy was home from a Sun. (the 18th I guess) until Thurs. so that was while I was home too. He took the car back with him but he said he figures he won’t need it over 30 days so I guess he expects to shove off for somewhere. Marie just sent a card. I owe her answers to 2 cards & a letter now so I guess I’ll have to get at it. I’ll be plenty busy tomorrow. I’ve got just 4 times the work I did have to do before. I took my suntans to the P.X. after I read my mail and then I came back and I’ve been sitting here writing. The first thing Lt. Staerk did was tell me to get that patch off. It hasn’t been authorized he says. So I let him cut it off for me. They’ve already had 2 wks. of basic & go on bivouac once a week now – Wed. nights. I don’t expect I can make it though. I haven’t looked but I’ll probably be C.Q. tomorrow night anyway. I guess I picked the best time for a furlough all right. I missed a lot of work here although I’ll probably have catching up to do and besides I had the best time for a furlough I think all way around. I felt pretty good until I saw things around here. Then it knocked my spirits for awhile but after I thought it over I decided it wasn’t going to be too bad. But I’d sure like to be back where I was June 17, with the same things ahead of me. Well that’s what’s what up to 4:40 p.m. so I guess I’ll sign off for a time. Tomorrow it’s the old grind again. The payroll is really going to be a beaut with over 200 men. Oh me.
Back at 9:40. They are trying to feed about 400 men in one mess hall so I got disgusted with the chow line and skipped supper. I looked for Sam & Rudy but didn’t find them. Their outfit is across the street yet but they got a lot of new men too and I wasn’t able to find the boys. So I put my stationery under my arm and headed for Ferd’s co. He was in tonight so we sat around and talked awhile. Something backfired and he hasn’t got his furlough yet and doesn’t know when he will get it now. He made Pfc. but that’s as far as he’ll be able to get over there I guess. At about 6:30 we left. We played a game of ping pong and then caught the bus and went to a show in the other part of camp. It was “Ghost Catchers” with Olson & Johnson. It was a crazy sort of thing but a relief from war pictures and stuff like that. I just got back and turned in my furlough. I hated to part with it. Things have changed plenty around here in those 2 weeks. They aren’t playing any more. They have a new kind of morning report also I see so that’s something more. The old one wasn’t complicated enough. Well that’s today. I probably answered your Thurs. & Fri. letters pretty well when I was home but I’ll look through quickly and see what needs mentioning. Thurs. June 15 – You bet Julius likes you. How’s Pop doing with the flag now? Judging by the past 2 weeks you don’t have to wait for people to go to bed to have the house quiet down. It’s always quiet. I like my job but I have a hunch it’s going to be a slight headache for awhile until things get straightened up a bit. Right now this outfit is full of 4-F’s (or about the same). Hugh likes to get letters I guess. I’ll have to get at it and write a few this week.
Fri. June 16 – They just turned the lights out on me so I’m out doors writing under the front porch light or whatever you want to call it. Add another patch to the list. I expect this one will be authorized later on and we can wear it.
Well I didn’t answer much but we discussed most of everything at home. So that’s it for this time. 10:15 and time I headed for bed as I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since Sat. night. It was swell while it lasted but it’s like everything I guess. Anyway it was a doggone good 2 weeks. So for tonight I’ll sign off.
Love
Son
Western Union
WESTERN UNION [DATE STAMPED: 1944 JUN 18 PM 8 44]
ZA222 7 TOUR=WH CHICAGO ILL 18 624 P
A FORIST=
1010 BEECH ST LANSING MICH=
MEET ME USUAL PLACE AT USUAL TIME=
SON
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